History

John Nance Garner IV, or “Cactus Jack” as he was known, was a Texas politician, a presidential contender in 1932 and our 32nd Vice President under FDR. While Garner was in the Texas House of Representatives, the legislature worked to choose a state flower, and he lobbied hard for the prickly pear cactus. Of course, it was the bluebonnet that won out, but hence was born his nickname Cactus Jack.

To commemorate Texas and the prickly pear cactus that Garner so loved, we’re giving away this adorable tea towel. This item is locally made by Austin artist Carolyn Kimball and provides the perfect pop of whimsy for any kitchen.

Tune into KLRU for Cactus Jack: Lone Star on Capitol Hill at 7 p.m. to learn more about this fascinating man.

Engage with us on social media or make a donation to #yourKLRU to win
the Prickly Pear Tea Towel. There are 4 ways to enter, which means 4 chances to win!

Comment with your choice for Texas state flower and you’ll be entered. Had you been able to cast a vote in 1901, what would you have picked?1. Facebook: Tag @KLRU-TV, Austin PBS2. Instagram: Tag KLRU and add #yourklru3. Twitter: Tag @klru
(note: For KLRU to see your entry, settings for your FB post, Instagram, or Tweet must be public.)OR4. You can also gain an entry by simply donating on the form below.

KLRU broadcasts programming created by and about people from all cultures year-round, from public affairs to history to independent film to kids programming. In celebration of Women’s History Month, KLRU and KLRU Q will broadcast a special lineup of programs including:

American Masters “Patsy Cline” airs Tuesday, March 7 at 7:00 pm. Celebrate the life and legacy of the groundbreaking “Crazy” singer who defined modern country music, featuring interviews with LeAnn Rimes, Reba McEntire and others.

American Masters “Maya Angelou”airs Tuesday, March 14 at 8:30 pm. Journey through the prolific life of the I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings author and activist who inspired generations with lyrical modern African-American thought. Features new interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Common, the Clintons, and others.

American Masters # 2704 “Dorothea Lange”airs Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 pm. Explore, through Lange’s granddaughter’s eyes, the life story of the influential “Migrant Mother” photographer. Never-before-seen photos and film footage, family memories and new interviews reveal the artist who challenged America to know itself.

My Love Affair with The Brain…Dr. Marian Diamondairs on Wednesday, March 22 at 9:00 pm. Catherine Ryan and Gary Weimberg’s film follows Dr. Marian Diamond over a 5-year period and introduces the viewer to both her many scientific accomplishments, who describes her 60-year career researching the human brain as “pure joy.” As one of the founders of modern neuroscience, it’s no exaggeration to say that Dr. Diamond changed science, and society at large in dramatic ways over the course of her career.

To Walk Invisible: The Bronte Sistersairs on Sunday, March 26 at 8:00 pm. Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte, all unmarried, faced a bleak future. Unable to rely on their alcoholic brother or near-blind father to provide for them, they worked as governesses to privileged and often unruly children. This is the story of how — against all odds — their genius for writing romantic novels was recognized in a male-dominated, 19th-century world.

Independent Lens # 1811 “Ovarian Psycos”airs on Monday, March 27 at 9:00 pm. Based in the heart of Los Angeles’ Eastside, and building upon the legacy of the Chicano/a and civil rights movement, the irreverently named Ovarian Psycos Cycle Brigade are a ferocious and unapologetic group of young women of color, cycling through the barrios and boulevards of the Eastside, committed to collectively confronting racism and violence, and demanding and creating safe spaces for women.

KLRU Q will feature:

On Janis Joplin: American Masters, intimate letters and rare footage shed light on the life of iconic rock singer Janis Joplin, Sunday, March 5 at 9:00 pm.

Patsy Cline: American Masters honors the life and legacy of the groundbreaking singer who defined modern country music, airing Sunday, March 12 at 9:00 pm.

Rebel: Voces Special Presentation #105 features Loreta Velasquez, a woman and a Cuban immigrant, secretly served as a soldier during the Civil War, airing at Sunday, March 19 at 6:00 pm.

Suffragettes Forever! The Story of Women and Power is a provocative three-part series in which Professor Amanda Vickery tells the story of the long war to give women an equal share of power in Britain. It was the Edwardian suffragettes who won the vote, but Vickery reveals that they were part of a much longer struggle started in the 18th century. She shows how bloody revolution, working class radicals, love-struck philosophers, campaigners in the sex industry, and, even the humble bicycle, all played a part in tackling the most enduring social injustice. It’s a story that puts the battle for the vote at the turn of the twentieth century in its true context. Vickery argues it’s a war that’s still going on today. This series airs Sunday, March 19. Individual episodes include:

7:00 pm Suffragettes Forever! The Story of Women and Power #101 — The suffragette campaign was the conclusion of a fight women had been waging for hundreds of years.

8:00 pm Suffragettes Forever! The Story of Women and Power #102 — During Queen Victoria’s reign, extraordinary women changed the opportunities of their gender.

9:00 pm Suffragettes Forever! The Story of Women and Power #103 — A look at how the Edwardian suffragette movement became a quasi-terrorist organization.